Fear Of Public Speaking

Is your fear of public speaking preventing you from reaching your personal and professional goals? Sweaty palms, dry mouth, nausea, shakiness, increased heart-rate, dizziness… they could all disappear in a minute… The Art of Public Speaking

Monday, July 16, 2007

Preparation techniques for public speaking is more than fact-finding or effective writing and then repeating the words by rote to your audience. Learning the more subtle skills like voice control and modulation, paper and equipment handling, posture and presentation, humor and timing, ease and confidence all require preparation.

Preparation techniques for public speaking includes practice, "real" practice, not just memorization. We're all familiar with the adage, Practice make perfect". But practice does not make perfect,Perfect Practice Makes Perfect.

Practice in front of a mirror 10 to 15 minutes a day, two or three times until the event. Practice speaking at the correct volume for the crowd and room size. You do not want to be overpowering or too faint to be heard.

Speak slowly and clearly. After reading a line, pause and look in the mirror, pretending you are looking at the audience, then return to your speech and repeat. To get immediate and realistic feedback, record your speech into a tape recorder and then listen critically.

You will hear where your strong points lie and the areas that need improvement. Doing that even once is worth ten silent read-throughs In the same way, one stand-up practice in front of friends and family members is worth ten read-alouds in front of a mirror. There will be nothing as helpful as practice and preparation to reduce or eliminate fear of public speaking. Practice, practice, practice.

Visualize your presentation in advance. Not only will your proficiency be increased by visualization, but so will your self confidence. Visualize yourself standing erect and proud, giving a flawless speech, the audience eager to hear every word. See yourself up on stage, fearless and powerful, connecting with your audience. Feel your pride. Hear the applause.

The fear of public speaking ranks high in the ratings of phobias. One of just many of the reasons for this is because of fear that someone in the audience may ask a difficult question after your speech, so anticipate and be ready with answers. There may of course be a question you haven't anticipated and don't know the answer to. Simply state, "I don't know, but I'll find out and get back to you". This will help eliminate your fear of 'unanswerable questions' and you can concentrate on your presentation.

Using these preparation techniques for public speaking will help to reduce or eliminate your stage fright. You've never learned how to do anything hard without practice, and speaking is the same way. Practice. You owe it to yourself and your audience.--------------------------------------------------------------------------Faye B. Roberts provides ways to overcome your fear of public speaking. Get a free report that will show you some little known secrets you can use right now to get on the fast track to public speaking success. Visit:Get your Free Report HereFor a sure fired way to make yourself a effective public speaker visit Make Me the Best Public Speaker

Sunday, July 15, 2007

To have the greatest public speaking success, you need to start with some basic information. Here are some basic tips to help get you started.

Do your homework about the audience that you are speaking to: research to find keywords that are associated with the audience. Use words related with the group and put those into your speech. For example, if you are giving your speech to a group of Police Officers learn some 10-4 codes or if your speech is to a group of golfers use some golf terms. Adjusting your speech to your audience will have them pay more attention to what you are saying. You will sound like one of them and they can relate better to you and you will truly connect to your audience.

The first thing you should know when preparing your speech is that your opening and closing remarks are the most memorable for your audience. The filler in the middle has a tendency to get lost. Which doesn't mean that the middle part should be gibberish, of course. It should be on topic and precise, but make sure you have a good opening sentence and a sharp punch line for the end. You want your opening remarks to be compelling and create enough interest to gain the attention of your audience, and your final remarks should summarize what your speech meant to convey to them. If you start your speech the right way you will be on your way to a delivering a successful speech, and the last sentence will make it memorable.

Please do not start with the normal "Hi ladies and gentlemen. We are here today to learn about the art of public speaking. We're going to have fun today and I am going to show you how to become an effective public speaker". This is totally the wrong way. It is boring and definitely not original. It might get the attention of a few but defiantly not the majority. Start out by creating some mystery and intrigue. Using the proper words in your opening can make or break your speech. Start with a compelling story, date or number. Something like "It was a short time ago that I made the most amazing discovery that has helped my career like nothing else. It has helped me by giving me confidence in myself and my ability to show you the art of public speaking." Or you could start with: "Ninety Five percent of all of you in the audience has a phobia. Do you know what that phobia is? It is the fear of public speaking". In both of these examples your audience is alert and ready to listen.

When you first get onto the stage and you're standing tall at the podium, smile for the first three seconds while saying absolutely nothing. During this time make eye contact with the audience. This shows the mark of a polished, experienced speaker. It shows you are poised and patient and engages the audience's attention right away.And speak at the audience, not the wall or the ceiling or the door - look at the audience and involve them. They will become interested in you simply because you show interest in them.

Public speaking is not the career choice for many, but the ones who are successful are the ones who spend time doing their research about their audience. Finding those few key words makes the audience feel special, which in turn makes them enjoy your speech. The thundering applause at the end will confirm it.

Stage fright and fear of public speaking can cripple your career. It's almost impossible to be successful in any business without having to speak to a large group of people at some point in time. This can be an excruciating experience if you suffer from fear of public speaking. In a recent Gallup poll shows that 40% of adults have stage fright and the fear of public speaking.

Performance anxiety or stage fright is a crippling fear that is a public speakers' equivalent to writers' block. No matter how much preparation time or how well you know your material, the stress of recalling the next line of your speech and the jitters caused by being on stage can be a powerful combination. Add the fact that one single mistake can cause inestimable damage to your presentation and you have a recipe for debilitating stage fright.

Almost every speaker has suffered from stage fright at some point in their career. Fear of public speaking shows itself in many situations and through all walks of life. It ranges from mere nervousness if you have to speak to more than a couple of people at work or to full blown panic attacks at the thought of speaking in any public situation. If you are the person who dreads the moment in a meeting when someone turns to you and says "what do you think?", or you worry that soon it will be your turn to introduce yourself, or even if you virtually pass out at the thought of any public speaking, you CAN be helped. There are some very basic strategies that will help you overcome your stage fright and your fear of public speaking.

Put yourself in control of everything within your sphere of influence. Check out your physical space and insure any hand-outs and presentation materials areavailable for distribution. If you are going to be using an overhead or power point system make sure they work (and are plugged in). Avoid being rushed or distracted on the day of your presentation.

Practice your relaxation skills before you go up to the podium. Take an imaginary journey through your speech from beginning to end, soothing your mind during the quiet time before your entry. Use deep breathing to calm your body and your mind. The difference between someone suffering from stage fright and fear of public speaking with someone who feels calm and capable is that the former frets about it in advance and the latter doesn't. So don't fret, practice your relaxation skills and stay calm.You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Faye B. Roberts is an independent researcher helping people become effective public speakers. For further information on making yourself an effective public speaker visit Make Me A Great Public Speaker

Faye B. Roberts provides ways to overcome your fear of public speaking. Get a free report that will show you some little known secrets you can use right now to get on the fast track to public speaking success. Visit: Get your Free Report Here

Friday, June 22, 2007

So you've decided you want to make a career of public speaking and want to be the best professional speaker you can be. You have some experience, really enjoyed yourself and feel you have something to contribute. The financial rewards are terrific, you get to travel with all expenses paid, meet new people and see new territories and even new countries.

Whether you are trying to learn more about the speaking industry or you are trying to move from an occasional speaker to professional speaker, there are several resources that you should become familiar with. The best place to start of course is with free resources on the web. It has the best compilation of data available on this topic.

Another excellent resource for information about professional speaking is through newsletters. Many of these are free to join. Two of the most highly recommended sources are: Speaker Fripp News and Great Speaking E-Zine. They can both be found on the web.

Speakers organizations are another great source for information. The National Speakers Association is the leading organization for people who speak professionally. NSA has excellent resources and educational materials designed to advance your skills. Toastmasters International has long been known as the number one source to gain public speaking experience. They have local chapters in almost all major cities. Another organization to consider is the American Training & Seminar Association. It provides a resource for professional speakers, corporate trainers, and seminar providers. See also The Advanced Public Speaking Institute which has a huge catalogue of free articles on the speaking profession.

Even the top speaking professionals in the world work hard to keep demand high for their services. As your career moves forward, it is important to keep working at building customer loyalty and expanding your exposure. You can advertise on your own web site, but word of mouth has proven to be the best form of advertising and as your reputation grows people from outside your local area will approach you to present to their group.

Becoming a professional speaker can be rewarding in many ways. First of all it can provide you with an opportunity to earn a fantastic income. You get to travel, set your own schedule, and public speaking will build your self-esteem. You'll be regarded as the expert in your field and that always feels good. Start small, gain experience as you grow, but start. The rewards and benefits are tremendous!------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information on this subject to make yourself an effective public speaker visit Make Me A Great Public Speaker Or Visit:

For a free report on this subject to make yourself an effective public speaker visit: Get A Free Report

Sunday, June 17, 2007

A recent Gallup poll found that 40% of adults have a fear of public speaking. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once stated that at a funeral, most people would rather be inside the casket than giving the eulogy! Fear of public speaking can cripple your career since it's almost impossible to be successful in business without having to speak to a large group at some point in time. But an excruciating fear of speaking can make this a painful experience.

Whether you call it performance anxiety or stage fright this crippling fear is a performer's equivalent to writer's block. It can stop you cold in your tracks. The stress of recalling the next line of your speech and the anxiety caused by being on stage can be a powerful combination. Add the fact that a single mistake can mar your presentation and you have a recipe for debilitating stage fright.

Nearly every speaker has had a bout of stage fright at some point in their career. Fear of public speaking manifests itself in many situations, and for people from all walks of life. It ranges from nervousness when talking to more than a couple of people at work, to full blown panic at the mere thought of speaking in any public situation. Whether you are the person who dreads the moment in a meeting when someone turns to you and says; 'What do you think'? or you virtually pass out at the thought of any public speaking, you CAN be helped.

Learning to speak in public is very much like eating an elephant - one bite at a time. Practice on your friends or family. They don't even have to know that they are your "practice audience". Learn some small piece of information and then informally introduce the subject at the next family gathering or outing. Be prepared enough to be able to answer questions on the topic. See, that wasn't so hard.....now go out and gather more information on another topic and do it again....it gets easier each time. Once you feel comfortable speaking in small, informal gatherings then branch out to bigger arenas. Perhaps your church group or bridge club, your volunteer group or a meeting at work.

Your fear of public speaking will diminish each time you repeat the process. As you get more and more comfortable speaking in public you will find that the tension and stress you used to feel may still be there, but you can use it to enhance your performance. All it takes is the willingness to try and you just may find your life is greatly enhanced by it.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Faye B. Roberts provides ways to overcome your fear of public speaking and puts you on the road to public speaking success. Visit: http://www.publicspeakingreport.infoFor more information about becoming a great motivation speaker Visit:http://www.publicspeakingreport.info/Report

A dynamic speaker speaks with energy, enthusiasm, commitment, and variety. Not being dynamic means being unconcerned, suffering from lack of confidence in one's public speaking abilities, speaking in a monotone, and being just plain boring. So how does one become a dynamic speaker? There are a number of factors that influence how other people react to your speech and it's delivery.

Try to mix up the content of your presentation - never say the same thing over and over. Pay attention to phrases or habits you express frequently. Phrases like: "you know" or "eh?" or even the word "like" are often a part of peoples' everyday speech patterns, but they become monotonous and boring during a presentation. Use your voice and your gestures to emphasize important points, a lot of gestures make you look more energetic, which increases dynamism.

Be yourself, because if your audience thinks you are being fake they will not believe you. You're cool, don't worry about it, impress them with your dynamism and your arguments. Change the volume and tone of your voice, but don't talk too loudly or too softly either. And slow down for the important points, but don't go too slow or too fast.

Your face is the most expressive part of your body and studies show that people pay a lot of attention to the expressions on your face. Use facial expressions which match the points you are making. Don't send mixed signals. And don’t be afraid to move around a bit, but don't stray too far from your notes.

Stand erect, don't bend over to read from your notes. And don't take your pen with you when you speak. Especially, do not twirl the pen while speaking and keep it out of your mouth. Needless to say never smoke during your presentation. Smoking isn't cool.

If you know anyone in the audience look sraight at them. Speaking to someone familiar to you will lessen the tensions and then gradually as you become more relaxed include other members of the audience. If on the other hand, you know no one in the audience, pick out three distinct personalities before you begin. Pick one in the centre of the room, one on the right side and one on the left. Perhaps a lady with bright blonde hair, or a gentleman with a rose in his lapel, or even someone with a unique piece of clothing. Any thing that makes them stand out from the crowd. Give all three of them a quick smile and small nod. During your speech you will feel more comfortable speaking to those three people because you have already established a link with them and as you look from one to the other the rest of the audience will see you look around and assume you are looking at everyone.

Most people are not born with the skills needed to be a dynamic speaker. Practice, perseverance, and keeping these tips in mind while delivering your speech will help you become a dynamic, powerful speaker.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faye B. Roberts provides ways to overcome your fear of public speaking. Get a free report that will show you some little known secrets you can use right now to get on the fast track to public speaking success. Visit: Get your Free Report Here

Throughout history, great speakers have effected the lives of millions of people. Today, throughout North America, motivational speakers inspire students to stay in school, say no to drugs, become leaders, and prepare for life after graduation. Adults are inspired by motivational speakers to follow their dreams, achieve their goals, or better their lives.

Among other things motivational speakers help people succeed in their business, improve their relationships, develop a positive attitude, become healthier, achieve financial success, and generally have more fun in life.

Motivational speakers enjoy the freedom of being their own boss. There are few jobs that offer so many benefits that includes applause and admiration, not to mention thousands of dollars every time you speak.

Don't try to be all things to all markets, carve out a niche for yourself, make yourself known in that one niche. This will increase your speaking engagements because motivational speaking is a product that must be sold. As you become more and more well known in your market you will find your speaking engagements become easier to book.

When approaching potential clients, you should have an outline of your presentation and provide a framework for your talk. Consider a visual presentation as many people gain more from a visual representation than a spoken one. As you get more experienced you will have an ever larger portfolio of past successes.

You can also contact large, non profit corporations and professional groups and make it clear you are available. While there is nothing wrong with directly asking for an engagement, announcing your availability will let them feel privileged to work with you. Also contact speakers' bureaus and notify them you are looking for engagements. Some of them may charge you to list your services yet others charge nothing. Most bureaus take a percentage of your fees for acting as your agent. You will find "speakers' bureaus" on the Internet.

In the beginning of your career you should be willing to work for free to get your name out. Once others hear your interesting story or experience, they may want to retain you. Inform everyone you know that you are seeking organizations that want a good motivational speaker. Call your local service organizations and volunteer to speak at their functions. To help establish yourself as an authority on your subject write and publish articles or books if possible. You don't have to publish a book, you could simply post to websites like wikiHow and submit to on-line magazines and blogs.

You should always draw up a written agreement, or contract, for all engagements. The written agreement should contain, among other things, how the fees will be paid (e.g., cash, check, over time), how long you are expected to speak, whether you will be reimbursed for travel expenses, and the time and date. This will help to avoid any disagreements at a later time.

Many well known motivational speakers no longer seek out speaking engagements. They are inundated with requests and many are booked years in advance. They also receive astronomical fees for their services. With patience, perseverance, and effective speaking techniques, you too can be listed with the elite.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Faye B. Roberts provides ways to overcome your fear of public speaking. Get a free report that will show you some little known secrets you can use right now to get on the fast track to public speaking success. Visit: Get your Free Report Here

Public Speaking Strategies

About Me

My name is Faye B. Roberts and I have overcome many challenges in my life. I am a successful business owner, on and off the Internet. I have researched many subjects with the hope of helping people through both challenging and stressful times in their lives.